Details of dog park plan come into focus

By Mark Hughes CobbStaff Writer

Published: Monday, January 28, 2013 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 27, 2013 at 10:35 p.m.

Plans for a proposed off-leash dog park continue to take shape, with renderings by Almon Associates further outlining details such as the training areas, art garden, water and fitness stations, and playground. The fenced-in park, with spaces to separate small from large dogs, pedestrian walking path, seating and bathrooms, is to be constructed at Munny Sokol Park when T-Town Unleashed, a project of the group Fresh St-Art, raises the money.

“Everything to get phase one built, which will cost $127,000, has been completed except the funds part,” said Kimberly Conway, an artist and teacher who is executive director of Fresh St-Art. Fresh St-Art is a not-for-profit group designing and creating public spaces to benefit the community; its first big success was the Alberta Gathering Place, an airy outdoor amphitheater-like space that set sail in Jaycee Park last summer.

A community meeting to get the fundraising and sponsors rolling was to be held earlier this month but was postponed by snow. Fresh St-Art plans to reschedule that meeting for mid-February, with a big public fundraising event, Luv Your Pooch Fest, projected for mid-March.

One fundraising step began in November, with 4-inch-by-8-inch paving bricks for sale, engravable with a name or message of the donor’s choice, for $50 each, through www.freshst-art.com.

The Tuscaloosa Park and Recreation Authority is not guiding funds to Fresh St-Art but plans to help once the group has raised the money.

“We have provided a space for the dog park and will work to help build it,” said Gary Minor, PARA executive director.

Many dog lovers now take their pets out to the old golf course adjacent to the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Alabama Arboretum, which is not being fenced. It’s also used as a training area for UA’s cross-country team, so there can be some traffic issues.

“Sokol is already our most popular park,” Minor said. “But I think the fact that we don’t have any dog parks whatsoever is a shame, and this is going to be very popular.”

According to a study by the National Recreation and Parks Association, dog parks have the highest rate of usage of all public facilities, topping even indoor swimming pools, and the NRPA recommends one swimming pool per 20,000 residents. There have been no similar national recommendations for dog parks, but one Sacramento, Calif., task force study suggested that one acre of off-leash dog park per 25,000 residents would meet needs. PARA has set aside an area roughly 21⁄2 acres at Sokol Park.

According to a study released this month by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Alabama ranks seventh in the nation for dog ownership, with 44.1 percent of households owning a dog.

Dog parks have become an increasing necessity due to the urbanization of formerly rural areas; as there’s less open land, there’s more need for a safe, controlled place for dogs and owners to let their pets roam. The American Kennel Club identified some of the benefits of dog parks: Allowing dogs and their owners places to exercise and socialize, room to run where they’re unlikely to endanger themselves or others. Well-socialized and exercised dogs are more likely to be healthy, which makes them better neighbors, as they’re less likely to destroy property or bark excessively.

The fenced-in areas also keep non-dog owners, joggers, small children or others from being forced to share the pathways of parks. Owners who don’t like keeping their dogs on leashes can allow them to run free.

The eventual plan is to create an education pavilion within the park that can also be used for art shows, school education and other community functions.

At the upcoming meeting, Conway will present a video visual of plans. They’ll also review notes, start signing up volunteers in public relations, fundraising and sponsorship. They’re looking for support from businesses that would benefit, such as pet stores and animal hospitals.

Conway and others on the Fresh St-Art board have been researching grant opportunities, selling the idea to various area groups, seeking input and getting the visuals and plans drawn.

<p>Plans for a proposed off-leash dog park continue to take shape, with renderings by Almon Associates further outlining details such as the training areas, art garden, water and fitness stations, and playground. The fenced-in park, with spaces to separate small from large dogs, pedestrian walking path, seating and bathrooms, is to be constructed at Munny Sokol Park when T-Town Unleashed, a project of the group Fresh St-Art, raises the money.</p><p>“Everything to get phase one built, which will cost $127,000, has been completed except the funds part,” said Kimberly Conway, an artist and teacher who is executive director of Fresh St-Art. Fresh St-Art is a not-for-profit group designing and creating public spaces to benefit the community; its first big success was the Alberta Gathering Place, an airy outdoor amphitheater-like space that set sail in Jaycee Park last summer.</p><p>A community meeting to get the fundraising and sponsors rolling was to be held earlier this month but was postponed by snow. Fresh St-Art plans to reschedule that meeting for mid-February, with a big public fundraising event, Luv Your Pooch Fest, projected for mid-March. </p><p>One fundraising step began in November, with 4-inch-by-8-inch paving bricks for sale, engravable with a name or message of the donor's choice, for $50 each, through www.freshst-art.com.</p><p>The Tuscaloosa Park and Recreation Authority is not guiding funds to Fresh St-Art but plans to help once the group has raised the money.</p><p>“We have provided a space for the dog park and will work to help build it,” said Gary Minor, PARA executive director. </p><p>Many dog lovers now take their pets out to the old golf course adjacent to the Tuscaloosa Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Alabama Arboretum, which is not being fenced. It's also used as a training area for UA's cross-country team, so there can be some traffic issues.</p><p>“Sokol is already our most popular park,” Minor said. “But I think the fact that we don't have any dog parks whatsoever is a shame, and this is going to be very popular.”</p><p>According to a study by the National Recreation and Parks Association, dog parks have the highest rate of usage of all public facilities, topping even indoor swimming pools, and the NRPA recommends one swimming pool per 20,000 residents. There have been no similar national recommendations for dog parks, but one Sacramento, Calif., task force study suggested that one acre of off-leash dog park per 25,000 residents would meet needs. PARA has set aside an area roughly 21⁄2 acres at Sokol Park.</p><p>According to a study released this month by the American Veterinary Medical Association, Alabama ranks seventh in the nation for dog ownership, with 44.1 percent of households owning a dog. </p><p>Dog parks have become an increasing necessity due to the urbanization of formerly rural areas; as there's less open land, there's more need for a safe, controlled place for dogs and owners to let their pets roam. The American Kennel Club identified some of the benefits of dog parks: Allowing dogs and their owners places to exercise and socialize, room to run where they're unlikely to endanger themselves or others. Well-socialized and exercised dogs are more likely to be healthy, which makes them better neighbors, as they're less likely to destroy property or bark excessively.</p><p>The fenced-in areas also keep non-dog owners, joggers, small children or others from being forced to share the pathways of parks. Owners who don't like keeping their dogs on leashes can allow them to run free.</p><p>The eventual plan is to create an education pavilion within the park that can also be used for art shows, school education and other community functions.</p><p>At the upcoming meeting, Conway will present a video visual of plans. They'll also review notes, start signing up volunteers in public relations, fundraising and sponsorship. They're looking for support from businesses that would benefit, such as pet stores and animal hospitals. </p><p>Conway and others on the Fresh St-Art board have been researching grant opportunities, selling the idea to various area groups, seeking input and getting the visuals and plans drawn.</p>